Machine for checkweighing and grading by weight



I R E D L E a E.

March 1 1927.

MACHINE FOR CHECK WEIGHING AND GRADING BY WEIGHT Filed March 26. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l March l 1927. f'

E. B. ELDER MACHINE FOR CHECK WEIGHING AND GRADING BY WEIGHT Filed March 2e. 1923 4 sheets-sheet 2 Mamh l 1927.

E. B. ELDER MACHINE FOR CHECK WEIGHING AND GRADING yBY WEIGHT Filed March 26. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 f 75* Zia/"Z March 1 1927.

E. B. ELDER MACHINE FOR CHECK WEIGHING AD GRADING BY WEIGHT 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 26 f Emy @672W Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL B. ELDER, OF'OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ELDER & ROBINSON CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS,

MACHINE FOR CHECKWEIGHING AND GRADING BY WEIGHT.

Application led March 26, 1923.

character and there are various features.

which will be more particularly pointed out in the ensuing part of the specification and the appended claims.

For a better understanding of my invention reference is to be made to the accom- In connection with the drawings, I have' not attempted to show all the parts in each view, that is, parts that would be shown in the rear or in other portions of the machine,

as this would tend to make more obscure some of the other parts, but I have tried to show the views so as to most clearly bring out the entire machine.

The various parts are shown in the same position in all the views except where indicated by dotted lines in an operated position.

The operation and construction of the Inar chine in a general way is as follows:

I preferably provide a scale, or similar mechanism, in which the weighing pan moves a distance proportionately to the under or over-weight of the article to be checkweighedLthat is, it? is set to receive articles or packages of a predetermined weight, and

Serial No. 627,805.

if such packages are under or over-weight, the pan will move a distance proportionately thereto. Adjustment means are provided so that the scale will function to divert the package away only when it is under or over the standard weight which is usually Within certain limits of tolerance above and below.

To this scale the articles are fed and checkweighed. Each article is then removed from the scale, preferably over the same path, and diverted after it leaves the scale, depending upon whether it is of the proper weight or otherwise.

In the preferredform lI arrange so that the package may be diverted into any one of three paths, that is, the standard path for packages that come within the predetermined range, anunder-weight path which takes the packages which come beneath the standard or predetermined range, and an over-weight path to which the packages are diverted that go above a predetermined limit of over-weight.

The packages having been fed to their proper channels may then be handled as desired. That is. the proper packages used accordingly, and the under and over-weight; packages returned t'or adjustment or otherwise disposed of.

Referring now more in detail to the preferred forni of my invention as shown I provide a weighing device, preferably in the form of a scale, the weighing pan of which moves proportionately to the under or over weight of the article or package to bc weighed. This scale as shown herein includes a weight pan 10 and a Weighing pan 11, suit-ably connected with an indicator 12 and with a swinging arm 13 the lower end of which moves to the left if the article is over weight and to the right it' the article is light or under weight.

In the use of the scale a weight is placed upon the pan 10 according to the weight o the package to be checked. That is, if it is a one-pound package, a one-pound weight is placed upon the pan 10.

Suitable feeding mechanism is provided for supplying the packages to the scale, and to this end I have a constantly advancing -belt 14, to which the packages are fed by hand or by any other means, as for instance from a filling and weighing machine. The packages are fed lo the belt 14 between the guiding plates 15-16 and are carried along to the stop 17, where the tirst package is of course held until the time comes for it to be fed into position 18, where it is moved ff the belt 14 on to the weighing pan l1, being preferably in the forni of a grate to prevent accumulation of i material. This latter feeding is accomplished by feed arm .anechanism in the form of a pusher supported upon the arni or lever 19. At the top end of this lever is a pusher plate 20, which pushes the package 1S ott the belt 14 onto the pan 11 for each operation ofthe machine. T he arm is connected by a link 21 to the crank plate 2l on shaft 22 which-is connected through suitable gearing 23 and an intermittent motion mechanism to the shaft 25, driven by a suitable source of power which may be connected to the pulley 26.

The intermittent motion mechanism is preferably in the nature of self-locking intermittent gears including a gear 24 and pinion 24 constructed so as to make one revolution of pinion 24' to each revolution of gear 24, the latter being on the main shaft 25 which makes one revolution for each package handled. In the form of gearing shown, gear 24 is of a 48-tooth circumference with one group of 24 teeth and an opposite blank of 24 teeth spacing. Pinion 24 has 24 teeth. Thus as gear 24 is rotating, pinion 24 receives a complete revolution by engagement with the 24 teeth of gear 24, then 24 rests during a half or blank space advance of 24. Thus for cach revolution of shaft 25, feed arm 19 is moved forwardly and back on one half revolution of shaft 25, and is held stationary during the next half revolution of 25. lVhile pinion 24 is resting, it vis held locked by the interlocking plates mounted alongside the gears 24, 24.

In order to properly supply the packages to the feeding position 18, indicated in Fig. 2, and prevent jamming by improper timing due to belt 14 advancing continuously, l provide suitable checking mechanism in the form of the stop 17 which normally prevents start of the feedin y of the packages beyond its position as indicated in Fig. 2, except when actuated by the rst forward movement of the feed arm mechanism 19. This feed arm carries a projecting meinber 27 which engages the pin 28 on the spring held.

pivoted member 29 and rotates this member 29 to disengage from and unlock the stop 17 upon the forward movement of thearm 19. As each package is fed, the next package is held by the side of the arm 30 until the feed arm returns to rest.

The stop 17 is provided so as to properly start the feeding of the packages on account of the continuous operation of belt 14.

p amava? stood of course that these packages are fed continuously to the belt 14 so that one abuts the other, so that after the first package passes the stop 17 in the first operation of the machine at the'beginning, the stop 17 is held in its dotted position by the side of the aekages as they pass along. Should there lie an interruption in the feed of the packages, the arm 17 immediately snaps back into its normal or holding position until the first package comes along again, at which time the package is held by the stop 17 to be released an'd carried forward by the belt 14 to feeding position 18, before the feed plate 2O reaches the package in the feeding position 18.

l have now referred to the scale or weighing device and the feeding mechanism, and will now take up the diverting control mechamsm.

As previously stated, the machine is preferably arranged to divert the packages to three diderent paths depending upon whether standard, un er weight or over weight.

To control the diverting arms T provide a mechanism which is controlled by the scale and preferably by the depending arm 13." To this end l provide two-position control levers, preferably in the form of levers each having two fulcrums, each lever o erating effectively from one fulcrum when tlie package is otherwise than standard, and from the rver and an under-weight two-fulcrum lever,

one of them being shown in detail in Fig. 5. Each lever consists of a main arm 33, securely pinned to a shaft 34 on which it ivots. At 'the upper end of arm 33 is a ell crank lever pivotedfat 35, the upper arm 36 of which is adapted to engage or pass a stop 37 carried by thescale arm 13. Thus lif the arm 36 engages the stop 37, the continuing movement of arm 33 on its pivot 34 causes `the arm 38 of the bell crank lever to rise to operate the diverting mechanism. as lwill be more fully referred to. The vbell crank lever is held againstla stop by a. spring 39.

With my diverting control mechanism T am enabled to provide adjustment to vary the limit of tolerance allowed the packages to be check-weighed, both above and below the set weight. Thus a one-pound package may be allowed a tolerance of one-eighth of an ounce above or below, so that if it comes upon the goods which are t be weighed, and to this end I provide an adjustable stop A() which maybe moved in the arm 36. As already stated, I preferably use a scale in which the weighing pan and supporting mechanism move proportionately to the under or over weight of the article being weighed. Thus the stop 37 carrie'l at the lower end of spring arm 13 moves to the left or right at a distance proportionately to the under or over weight of the package. By" means of the adjustable stops 40 I may thus vary the engaging point belt so that the stop 40 does not engage the scale stop 37, unless the scale has moved beyond the predetermined tolerance.

This feature of adjustability is of impor* tance, and I am enabled to secure this by reason of the fact that my diverting control means, or levers, operate at right angles to the plane of movement of the scale exten* sion.

I also provide two such diverting control or two-fulcrum levers, the one at the left in F ig. 1 being for the over-weight or heavy packages, and the one at the right for the light or underweight packages. These levers are pinned and move with the shaft 34, which carries an actuating extension 41, connected by a link 42 to a bell crank lever 43 carrying a roller actuated by a side cam 44 mounted on cam 84, which carries the sprocket driven by chain 86, all rotatable as a unit idler on the shaft. 45. This cam 44-84 is connected by the chain 46 with the main shaft 25. so as to rotate in unis-on therewith, that is. the cam makes one revolution for each revolution of shaft 25, which means one revolution for cach package operation of the machine.

Thus for each operation of the machine the diverting control levers are advanced to cooperate with the scale arm, according to the package weight.

This operation of the diverting control levers 33 begins after the package has been deposited on the scale and had time to set the scale, the levers preferablymoving forward completely just before the takeoff arm mechanism begins to sweep the package off the scale, and returning with the beginning on movement of the takeoff arm.

lt will be noted that the arms 33.are spring held by a spring 47 wound around shaft 34 in a. direction tending to hold the upper end of the arm away from the scale stop arm. A stop arm 48 is also carried by the shaft 34 (Fig. 3) and catches apin on the side of the frame to prevent the spring 47 from rotating the levers too far with their pivot shaft 34.

In order to hold the scale stop arm against vibration after the scale has set, and thus secure proper effective cooperation with the diverting control levers, I provide an arm -49 which is .piv'otally held -free for slight rotation on shaft 34, but initially advanced therewith at the beginning of the movement of the shaft. Lever 49 is pressed forwardly by spring 51 against a 'hub stop 50 which is pinned to shaft 34. Thus, upon the initial movement of shaft 34, the arm 49 engages the scale arm 13 and presses it against the frame 52 to-hold it against vibration before the diverting control levers come into cooperation with the scale arm. Enough play of lever 49, however, is provided at the hub stop so that after the lever 49 strikes the scale arm 13, continued movement of the shaft 34 and diverting levers is permitted to either pass the scale arm stop 37 or engage it to operate the proper diverting arm. Stop 37 being carried on the yielding or spring extensionof arm 13, is clear of the back-stop 52 during the weighing operation of the scale. This prevents interference with the proper operation of the scale, and also allows locking the scale and this controlling stop while the diverting control `mechanism is cooperating with the scale to eflect proper disposition of the package.

Now as to the mechanism for operating the diverting arms, whereby the checked packages are moved forwardly to their proper channel, I preferably employ a mechanical connection from the two-fulcrum levers to the diverting arms, although it is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to such mechanical means, as I have accomplished the same by electrically controlled connections. I shall describe one of these connections, as both are substantially the same. To this end I provide a lever 54 pivoted at 55 and having an end 56 adapted to be lifted by the arm 38 of the two-fulcrum lever, whenever the latter is moved forward and engages the scale arm, if the package weighed is other than standard. The said lever 54 is connected by a link 57 to a second lever 58, which is secured to a shaft 5 9 carrying an upwardly extending arm 60, connected by a link 61 to a latch 62. The link 61 has a slot through which the latch 62 extends to provide lost motion, to allow resetting of the diverter without disturbing the tripping levers. This slot is indicated in the dotted line link 61 in Fig. 4. This link and the other dotted portions shown in Fig. 4 by dot-ted lines are indicated in this manner because they are actually located above the plane of section line 4-4 of Fig. 1. trol now under consideration is the one that shifts the package if it is too heavy or overweight, and operates upon the diverting arm 63 whichis normally held in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. This arm 63 ismounted upon a shaft 64 having a spring 65 thereontending to rotate the shaft and arm 63 in a clockwise direction, but 4re- The divert-ing arm con-4 strained by the latch 62. But as soon as the latch 62 is freed from the extension 65 of the divertlng arm shaft, the diverting arm ard packages in their proper path, and are only actuated when a package other than standard is check weighed. So to restore the diverting a-m 63 when actuated, l provide a restoring lever 66 mounted at the bottom of the shaft 64, said lever having a lost motion connection through a collar 67 to the shaft 64. This is indicated in Fig. l by. the rectangular clearance between parts 66 and 67. When the diverting arm 63 is released from its normal position, as indicated in Figs. 2 and l, it immediately snaps over into its alternate position, thereby also carrying the hub 67 on its shaft around until the clearance indicated between parts 66 and 67 is closed. Thus, when the restoring lever 66 is actuated it restores the diverting arm 63 and then the clearance between the parts 66-67 allows subsequent reciprocations of the arm 66, without interference with or by the diverting arm if it has not been actuated.

This restoring arm 66 is connected to a universal joint with a link 68 extending to a bell crank lever 69, the lower arm 70 of which (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l) is .operated by a pin 71 on disk 72 carried upon the main shaft 25. So that upon each revolution or operation of the machine, thediverting arm restoring mechanism is actuated to restore a diverting arm if it has been moved off normal.

The operation of this diverting arm restoring or setting mechanism preferably oc curs just before the diverting arm control mechanism is actuated, and thus, of course, just before the weighed package is swept off the scale pan.

I have just described the diverting arm mechanism for diverting an over-weight or heavy package. As already stated, the diverting arm mechanism for diverting light or under-weight packages is the same as that described and is'indicated with the same reference numerals with prime added, extending from the lever 54 through the various elements to the'diverting arm 63.

I have now described the mechanism for feeding the packages to the scale, the operation of the scale, the diverting control mechanism, which cooperates with the scale extension, the diverting arm actuating mechamara? anism and. its operation by the control mechanism, and the mechanism for restoring or setting the diverting arms.

it will now describe more in detail the scale discharge or takeoff mechanism.

The scale discharge or takeod mechanism includes an arm 7 5, which isv pivotally supported u on shaft 45 so that it may reciproand resting on the last uarter. To t is end` the gearing consists o self-locking intermittent gears, including a larger gear 78 of, say, f8-teeth circumference, and a smaller gear or pinion of, say, 24teeth circumference. But the larger ear 78 has two opposite sections of 12 teet each and two opposite blanks of 12 teeth spacing. During the resting period, the pinion 79 1s held immovable by the locking plates shown mounted alongside the gears. i

The takeoff arm has a finger 80 pivotally mounted thereon, and carrying a pinion 8i in mesh with the teeth on a rack 82 slidably mounted in the arm 75. This rack connection extends downwardly through the arm 75, and has a roller 83 at the lower end thereof, riding on the peripheral face of a cam 841, rotatable on the shaft e5. This cam 84, of course, rotates independent of any movement of the 'arm 75, so that as the cam 84 begins its forward movement the first 90 `degrees advance thereof lifts the rack 82 and thus moves the finger 80 around into its dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 3, where it is in place to enga e the back of the package and sweep it on the scale pan l1. This preliminary movement of the iinger 80 to the actuating piosition occurs, however, beforethe arm 75 moves forward into position to engage the package. rlhe cam 842 is sofshaped that the finger 80 is held in its package engaging' position while the arm is moving forward, and before the arm begins to move backward the cam permits the Yrestoration of the finger 80, so that it moves upwardly to clear the next package as it is being pushed on to the scale pan to be weighed.

The forward, or discharge, movement of larm7 5 preferably begins after the package has been deposited on the scale, given time to rest so as to set the scale, and sucient time given to the diverting mechanism control means to advance into cooperative release with the'scale arm 13. rlhus the package has been weighed and the diverting means operated before the package has been moved on to the takeod belt far enoughv to be improperly diverted.

lhis takeoff belt. 86 is constantly moving and il is to be understood that the packages are swept olf the scale along over the same path. ',lhe diverting` occurs after the weighed package has been transferred to the takeoff belt. lf the package is standard it coni inues along belt 86 until it strikes the diverter arm GS, which transfers it over on to the belt 14 which takes away the standard packages.

lf the package is heavy it is carried along on the takeoff' belt 86 as usual, but the diverting mechanism has caused the divertingl arm (i3 to snap over into its dotted line position, so that the heavy package is carr'ed forward on thebelt 80 and continued along on this middle path where. it. may be disposed of afterwards.

lf the package is light it is of course transferred on to the takeoff belt as usual, but the diverter arm 61 has been moved into its dotted line position before the package reaches that point on th'e belt 86, when it strikes thfs arm 61 and is transferred over on to the belt 87 and carried forward as a light. package to be disposed of afterwards.

lVhere the present machine is employed in connection with an automatic takeoff ma chine of some kind, that is, in which the packages are carried away after they are properly diverted, it is desirable that the present machine be automatically rendered ineffective should anything occur which would interfere with the removal of the packages from the machine, so that they would become stopped or the takeoff paths clogged.

To this end I have shown mechanism in Figs. G and 7 which it is to be understood is to be applied or not, as desired. lI have preferably shown this mechanism in these separate views in order to more clearly illustrate the machine, as to show this mechanism over the other views would tend to complicate the views and make it more difficult to understand the construction and operation.

In general this safety or automat-ic shutoff mechanism is controlled by the packages as they are fed forward on the takeoff belt 80, the mechanism being such that so long as the packages are fed forwardly intermittently in propel' order, the packages are fed on to the weighing pan 11 from the feeding belt 14. But should the packages that have been check-weighed remain on the takeoff belt because they havev not been remored from the machine, then the safety mechanism operates to prevent feeding more packages to the machine until the takeod path has been cleared. lVithout this safety ried' away by belt 8G, and moved from its" full line position to its dotted line position, as indicated in Fig. 6. It is then held in this dotted line position until the package has passed along on belt 86 'to' release the arm, when it is restored by the spring 90. Shaft 89 has an arm 91 at its lower end, which is connected by a link 92 to a latch 93, this latch beng adapted to hold the stop arm 94 in front of the incoming packages on belt 14, and prevent feeding thereof should the arm 88 be held over by a stopped package.

This stop arm 94 is placed in a position relative to the stop 30 carried by the feed arm 19, so that the center line A, shown on arm 94 in Fig. 6, corresponds with center lineA of Fig. 2. This places the left edge of arm 94 slightly to the left of arm 30, so as t0 hold the incoming package clear of arm 30 and thus prevent succeeding reciprocations of the feed arm -19 from rubbing on the first package, should the feed be stopped by the automatic mechanism. Arm 94 is supported in a right-angularly disposed bracket 95,-being adjustably held therein. This bracket 95 is secured at the upper end of a support 96, hel-d in a slidable bar 97. The support 96 at its upper end slides in a slot. in the plate 98, as indicated in Fig. 6. The slidable bar 97 is suitably supported in blocks 99-100, and is adapted to be moved forward by the reclprocation of feed arm 19. For this purpose I attach an extension 101 to the arm 19, adapted to strike the end of the slide 97 and push the stop arm mechanism forward. To'restore this stop arm mechanism, I provide a spring pressed arm v102, connected with 4the bar 97, as indicated in Fig. 6, so that every time the stop arm 94 is pushed forward by the feed arm 19, unless the stop arm is held in its actuated position, it is restored by the spring arm 102 upon restoration of feed arm 19.

As previously stated, the stop arm 94 is adapted to `be held in its effec-tive or holding position by means of the latch 93, should the leaving package or packages be retarded. The timing o f the mechanism is such that when the feed arm 19 moves forwardly and the stop army 94 has been actuated, the last weighed package has reached the controlling arm 84 .and moved it into its operated or dotted line position, thereby carryingthe latch 83 so that it hooks over the latch pin 103, and thus prevents a, restoration of the gaging control arm- 83. This prevents a restoration of the stop arm 94, though the feed arm 19 continues to reciprocate. Therefore, arm 94 remains in Ithe pathof the fed in packages on belt 14, and prevents moving them before the feed late 20 until the takeoifpassage has been c eared and control arm 88 restored.

However, in the normal operation of the machine, with packages going through in regular order, the timing is such that the last package has passed control arm 88 and allowed its restoration before arm 19 begins its retractive movement, so that latch 93 is out of the path of the returning stop pin 103.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

- 1. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by Weight, a stationary scale for Weighing articles to be check-weighed, mechanism for feeding articles to the scale, means inde endent of the incoming article for removing all the articles from the scale over the same path after weighing, a single carrier for receiving all the articles upon removal from the scale, and mechanism including said carrier controlled by this scale for sending the articles to did'erent paths alter leaving the scale, depending vupon whether they are standard or under-weight.

2. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weighing articles to be check-we1ghed,mech anism for :feeding articles to the scale, means independent of the incoming article for rev moving all the articles from the scale over the same path after weighing, a single carrier for receiving all the articles upon removal from the scale, and mechanism including said carrier controlled by this scale for sending the articles to different paths after leaving the scale, depending upon whether they are standard or otherwise.

3. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a stationary scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, mechanism for feeding articles to the scale, means independent of the incoming article for removing all the articles from the scale over the same path after weighing, a single carrier for receiving all the articles upon removal from the scale, and mechanism including said carrier controlled'by this scale for sending the articles to different paths after leaving the scale, depending upon whether they are standard or over-weight.

4. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a stationary scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, mechanism for feeding articles to the scale, means independent of the incoming article for removing all the articles from the scale over the same path alter weighing, and mechamsm controlled by this scale for sending the weight, a stationary scale for j anism for diverting articles which have been articles to different paths after leaving the scale, :depending upon Whether they are standard or under-weight or over-weight.

5. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a stationaryscale for Weighing articles to be check-weighed, mechanism for feeding articles to the scale, means for removing all the'articles from the scale over the same path after weighing, and mechanism controlled by this scale. for sending the articles to three different paths after -leaving the scale; depending upon whether ,they are standard or under-weight or overweight.

6. .In a machine for check-weighing and gradmg by weight, a stationary scale for Weighing articles to be check-weighed, mechanism for feeding articles to the scale, means independent of the incoming article for removing a-ll the articles from the scale over the same path after Weighing, a single carrier for receiving all the articles upon removal fromthe scale, and mechanism including said carrier controlled by this scale for diverting the articles to diiierent paths after leaving the scale, depending upon Whether they are standard or under-weight, and means for holding the scale immovable while the diverting mechanism is under controll ot the scale.

7. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by Weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, diverting'mechcheck-weighed, according to whether standard weight or otherwise, a two-fulcrum lever for controlling said mechanism, and means controlled bythe scale for causing eiective operation of t-he lever on one or the other of its fulcrums according to whether the article weighed is standard or otherwise.

8. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale Jfor weighing articles to be check-weighed, diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check-weighed. according to whether standard weight or under-weight, a two-fulcrum lever for controlling said mechanism, and means controlled by the scale for causing eiective operation of the lever on one or the other of its ulcrums according to whether the article weighed is `standard or underweight.

9. In a machine for check-Weighing and grading by weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check-weighed, according to whether standard'weight or over-weight, a two-ulcrum lever for controlling said mechanism, and means controlled by the scale for causing eective operation of the lever on one or the other of its fulcrums according to whether the article weighed is standard or over-weight.

10. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check-weighed according to whether the article is standard, over-weight or underweight, two-fulcrum levers for controlling said mechanism, and means controlled by the scale for causing operation of the levers on one or the other of their fulcrnms according to whether the article weighed is standard,l

over-weight or under-weight.

11. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check-weighed according to whether the article is standard, over-weight or under-weight, two-position levers for controlling said mechanism, and means controlled by the scale for causing operation of the levers to one or the other ot their positions'according to whether the article weighed is standard, over-weight or under-weight.

12. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check-weighed-according to whether standard or otherwise` a two-positionlever for cont-rolling said mechanism,y power driven mechanism for positively moving the leycr into either one of its positions, and means controlled by `the scale for causing opera-- tion of the power driven mechanism for positively moving the lever to one or the other of its positions according to whether the article weighed is standard or otherwise.

13. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for Welghing articles to be check-weighed, diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check-weighed according to whether standard or under-weight, a two-position lever for -controlling said mechanism, power driven mechanism for positively moving the lever into either one o t' its positions, and means controlled by the scale for causing operation of the power driven mechanism for positively moving the lever to one or the other of its positions according to whether the article weighed is standard or underweight. y

14. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, ascale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check weighed according to whether standard or over-weight, a two-position lever for controlling said mechanism, power driven mechanism for positively moving the lever ino either one of its positions, and means controlled by the scale `for causing operation of the power driven mechanism for positively moving the lever to one or the other clear both leversor be placed in the of one or the other according to the opera.-

tron of the scale to actuate the diverting means accordingly.

16. -In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale 'for weighing articles to be check-weighed, having a men'iber movable proportionately to the under or over-weight of the article weighed, means for diverting the article weighed according to whetherv it is standard, under-weight or over-weight, and an under-weight lever and an over-weight lever each having two 'tillcrnms, connections from'the levers tor operating the diverting means, a stop operated by the scale member to clear both levers or be placed in the path of one or the other according to the operation of the scale to actuate the diverting means accordingly and adjusting means t'or varying the amount oi' under-weight and over-weight,allowable to an article before the stop reaches an effective position in the path ot' the levers.

17. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale 'for weighing articles to be check-weighed, means for diver-ting the article weighed according to whether it is standard, under-weight or over-weight, an under-weight lever and an over-weight lever each having two fulcrums, connections from the levers for operating the diverting means, and a stop operated by the scale td clear both levers or be placed in the path of one or theother according to the operation of the scale to actnate the diverting means accordingly, and means for holding the stop immovable while cooperating with the levers to cont-rol said connections.

18. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, a two-fulcrum diverting mechanism operating lever, said lever being operable on one fulcrum for standard weight of the article check-weighed and on the other fulcrnrn if the article is otherwise, and means controlled by the scale for operating the lever on one or the other ulcrnm according to the operation of the scale in weighing.

19. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by. weight, a stationary scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed having a centrally pivoted scale beam and depending transversely swinging arm movable with the scale beam when weighing, diverting control means movable in .a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of said arm operable differently according to the movement of said arm and diverting mechanism operable according to the operation of the diverting control means.

20. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a stationary scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed having a lixedly supported depending pendulum arm movable transversely proportionately to the under-weight or over-'weight of the article weighed, and a diverting control arm movable in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the scale arm operable dider'ently according to the movement of the scale arm.

2l. ln a machine for check-weighing and grading by Weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed having a swinging arm movable proportionately to the linderweight or over-weight of the article weighed, a diverting control arm movable at right angles to the 'plane of movement of the scale arm and arranged to engage or to clear the scale arm depending npon the extent of movement of the scale arm and the tolerance allowed, and adjusting means for varying the tolerance allowed before the arms en- 22. ln a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed having a swinging arm which moves if the article is not standard in weight, a diverting control arm movable at right angles to the plane of movement of the scale arm and arranged to engage or to clear the scale arm according to the movement thereof, and means for holding the scale arm immovable after the articlehas been weighed and until the control arm has cooperated therewith to eng n"e or to cleai1 the scale arm.

23. ln a machine for check-weighing articles, a continuously driven feed-belt on which packages are fed in a continuons series, a reciprocatory feed arm for pushing the packages transversely od the belt as they are fed along, and a stop controlled in synchronism with the feed arm to prevent feeding the first package of a series in front of the feed arm while the arm is in a feedingl position to not properly engage and push the package od the belt.

2d. lin a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, mechanism for feeding articles to the scale, means for removing all the articles from the scale over the same path vafter weighing. and mechanism controlled by this scale for' sending the articles to diderent paths after leaving the scale, depending upon whether they are standard orA otherwise, and automatlcailly operated `mechanism to preventl edective operation ofthe feeding mechanism if the articles check-weighed are blocked against removal after removal from the scale.

25. In a machine for check-Weighing and grading by weight, means for successively weighing articles to be check-weighed andV for thereafter-fsuccessively removing the articles from the scale, means for thereafter carrying away the articles in an order of successive relationship, mechanism for feeding the articles to be weighed, and automatically operated mechanism to prevent ef- 'i fective operation of the feeding mechanism 1f the order of 'successive relationship is disrupted by failure to continue to remove the 'articles carried away.

26. Vlin a machine for check-Weighing and grading by weight, a scale for Weighing articles to be check-weighed, diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check-weighed according to whether standard or otherwise, a power driven two-position leverinitially actuated independent of the scale for controlling said mechanism, and means controlled by the scale for causing operation of the lever to one or the other of its' positions according to whether the article weighed is standard or otherwise.

27. lin a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check-weighed according to whether standard or under-weight, a power driven two-position lever initially actuated independent of the scale for controlling said mechanism, and means controlled by the scale for causing operation of the lever to one or the other of its positions according to whether the article weighed is standard or under-weight.

28. ln a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed, diverting mechanism for diverting articles which have been check-weighed according to whether standard lorl over-weight, a power driven two-position lever initially actuated independent of the scale for controlling said mechanism, and means controlled by the scale for causing operation of the lever to one or the other of its positions according to whether the article weighed is standard or over-weight.

29. lin a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a rocking-beam weight controlled scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed having a swinging arm iiXedly depending from the beam and movable with the scale when weighing, power driven diverting control means initially actuated independent of the scale and movable at right angles to the plane of movement of said arm operable dierently according to the movement of said arm, and

to the movement of the scalearm.

- under-weight or over-weight o f the articlev weighed, and a power driven divertlng condiverting mechanism operable according to the operation of the diverting control means. Y 30. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a stationary rockingbeam weight controlled scale for weighing a plane at ri ht angles to the plane of movement of sai arm operable differently according to the movement of said arm, and diverting mechanism operable according to the operation vof the diverting control means- '31. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a rocking-beam weight controlled scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed having an arm depending directly from Vthe scale beam and .movable proportionately :to the under-weight or overweight of the article weighed, and a power driven diverting control arm, initially actuated independent of the scale' and movable at right angles to the plane of movement of the scale arm operable differently according 32. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a stationary scale for weighing articles to be check-weighed having an arm movable proportionately to, the

trol arm initially actuated independent of the scale and movable in a Vpla-ne at right angles to the-pl ane of movement of the scale arm operable 'differently according to the movement of the scale arm. l

33. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for welghin articles to be check-weighed having a yieldngly mounted swinging arm which moves if the article is not standard in wei ht, a diverting control arm movable at rig tangles to the'plane of movement of the scale arm and arranged to engage or to clear the scale arm according to the movement thereof, a solid back and means for movingthe yielding scale arm against seid lback for holding the scale armfiinmovable after th article has beenweighed and until the control arm has cooperated therewith to engage or to clear the scale arm.

34. In a machine for check-weighing and grading by weight, a scale for welghing the articles, an arm. movable wit-h'the scale pan if the article is not standard in wei ht, a.

yieldingly mounted stop carried v wit the arm, a rigid back for the stop, a control arm movable in a plane perpendicular to the plane of movement of the stop and cooperable therewith according to the movement of the stop, and means operable with the control arm to engage said yieldingly mounted stop to abut said back for holding the scale immovable after the article has been weighed until the control arm has cooperated with the stop.

35. In a machine of the characterA described, a scale for weighing the articles having a pivotally mounted pan for weighing articles to be check-weighed, an arm extending from and pivotally movable with the scale pan, a spring mounted stop carried by the arm and movable transversel of the plane of movement of the arm, a rlgid back for the stop, a control device cooperable with said stop and movable in a plane perof the stop, and means for enga ing the stop to move 'it to abut said back or holding the stop and scale immovable prelimi- `pendicular to the pivotal plane of movement grading by weight, a rocking-beam weight controlled scale for weighing articles to be day of March, A. H1923;v

check-weighed having a swlnging arm fix- 

